Actor and comedian Moshe Kasher, 47, revealed on Instagram Sunday that he was diagnosed with Stage 1 tonsil cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Kasher, known for his role as Jacob Samuel in the second season of "The Pitt," said he discovered a bump on his tonsil while filming "The Comeback King" with Judd Apatow in Savannah, Georgia.
Details of the Diagnosis and Surgery
Kasher wrote that he underwent a five-hour surgery on June 19, during which doctors "yanked my jaw open," removed the cancerous areas, "and then slit my throat and dissected my neck." The procedure left him with a "hardcore neck scar" and a "swollen and bruised mouth." He described the experience as "the most terrifying and consciousness consuming experience of my life."
"My life has been terror, meditation, tears, and medical planning (oh and 12 hour days on set pitching jokes)," Kasher wrote.
Recovery and Prognosis
Kasher said he is in pain and "in the middle of a very difficult process." He noted, "It's going to be a long summer. But the good news is the cancer I have has an incredibly high cure rate (in the 95% zone)." He expects to learn next week whether he needs radiation therapy but remains optimistic: "Regardless I will be OK and back to being a cool dude ASAP."
In an episode of "The Endless Honeymoon Podcast" recorded before his surgery, Kasher and his wife, comedian Natasha Leggero, discussed the diagnosis. Kasher said, "I am sick; I don't feel sick. My body feels great. It has been a really reality-altering nightmare. But also very enlightening and [a] profound time of self-reflection and fear, processing and meditation."
HPV and Cancer Risk
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, comprising over 200 related viruses, with about 40 types spread through skin-to-skin contact, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. The virus can cause cancer by integrating its viral DNA into a host's genome, leading to continuous production of viral proteins that nullify the body's tumour-suppressing systems, allowing infected cells to grow uncontrollably, per the National Cancer Institute.
In Kasher's case, the HPV infection led to oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the back of the throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms may include a long-lasting sore throat, earaches, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, and unexplained weight loss.
Personal Reflections
Kasher shared that the cancer diagnosis was his "worst nightmare" because his father died from a different, less curable cancer found on his neck. The surgery removed his tonsils and 25 lymph nodes from his neck. He expressed gratitude: "I'm going to be OK. The road to OK is going to be long and pretty arduous."
